Immortal sacrifice, p.28
Immortal Sacrifice, page 28
Red navigated around the pond. “A ship with black sails approaches Emerald Inlet. I have never seen this one before.”
“Black sails?” Zamara frowned. “—but I took every ship that could make the trek. I even stole their cargo ships…”
“Well, apparently you missed one.” Red said.
Zamara growled. “Let them dock. The Magai can station themselves on the beach to take whoever it is prisoner. I saved some of the chieftain’s bracelets. Let’s hope it’s those traitorous twins. We can use them for leverage.”
“Traitorous twins?” Red asked.
“Sideon and Merida Tyrnak, they are as deceptive and twisted as their father, Kain. The twins, Giselle, and Desmond are now considered enemies. So, if you see any of them, slap a bracelet on them and lock them up immediately. We also need to get a message to Scandronn.”
Zamara descended the spiral stairs of Mage Tower and wandered through dimly lit hallways on her way to the dungeons. She came to rest outside a set of bars near the end. The scent of mint and saltwater hovered in the air.
She spoke into the darkness of the cell. “The good news is, I can probably use you two for leverage to get my sister back.”
“Good luck with that.” Sideon chuckled and rose from his heap in the corner. His gaze devoured her as he sauntered to the bars.
Gooseflesh sprung up on her arms and pirouetted down her spine. She told herself it was the chill of being underground. He is a lying bastard. Stay focused. Do not let him charm you.
“He sent me to kill you, knowing that I would follow you to the grave. He would sooner stick a knife in my back than give up his power. Killing me would be the easiest way for him to get what he wants. If you hand me over to my father, we forfeit both our lives before the battle even begins. You might want to rethink that strategy, love.”
“You don’t get to call me that.” She spat. “You used me. I heard you and Giselle scheming with my own ears. I saw you and her groping each other with my own eyes. If you ever try to touch me again, I will cut your blasted hands off.”
“You are mine.” He laughed. “I will call you whatever I please. What you think you saw or heard is wrong. Typical, jumping to judgment with only half the story.”
“Gods!” Zamara grabbed the bars and bared her teeth. “I have been sleeping with my enemy’s son! Do you have any idea how stupid that makes me look?”
Sideon wrapped her hands in his own and pressed their foreheads together. “We are not defined by who our parents are, Zamara. For instance, I hated you in the beginning for what the General did to our mother. Then, I got to know you and realized you had nothing to do with it.”
Zamara pulled away. “Was any of it even real?”
“Any of what?”
“Us.”
“Every bit.” He reached through the bars and pulled her to him. “Kain being my father changes nothing between us. You are my Ceterus, Zamara. I place you above all else, until the end of time. I may be a bastard, but I’m your bastard. I would burn the world for you. I would never intentionally hurt you. I love you. Gods, with everything I am, I love you. My father lost my allegiance the second he kidnapped my brother-in-law. He used us. I didn’t tell you because I knew you would freak out. I wanted to. I tried to. I could never find the right moment. I was on my way to come tell you everything when you stole my ships. Ander and Rose are out there. We need to prepare for battle. Let me out so we can finish this, together. We can show the universe why we are fated to be.”
Zamara cleared her throat and looked at the ground. “About that…”
Sideon snatched up her hand and jerked it in front of her face, glaring at the ring Cassian gave her. “What is this?” His voice was soft, but there was a hint of warning in it. Her stomach dropped.
“Cassian asked me to marry him.” Her voice sounded small to her ears.
His grip tightened around her wrist, “…and what did you say?”
She stared at his heaving chest and swallowed past the lump in her throat. “…yes.”
Sideon flung her arm away and turned his back on her. He walked to the center of the cell, hands resting on top of his head. His shoulders rose and fell with each deep breath he took. Then, he tossed his head back and began to laugh, hysterically.
Zamara glared at the back of his head. “What is so funny?”
He took a breath and shook his head, “Out of the hundreds, probably even thousands of females I have been with, the only one I have ever loved, the one that is supposed to be meant for me and me alone, doesn’t return the sentiment. Has chosen someone else.” His shoulders fell and he stared at the floor.
He shook his head. “The Fates are cruel bitches.”
“I’m sorry.” Zamara’s heart broke. She loved him, but what’s done was done. Even if he was telling the truth, she already told Cassian yes. It’s time to focus on ending this.
“No.” Sideon put his palm up and turned to her. “I understand.”
“Sideon—"
“—congratulations.” He took a deep breath and pulled himself together. He grinned at her. “I love you. I want you to be happy. Even if it’s not with me. Don’t forget that we are immortal. We still share a connection. A lot can change in a few years. However, one thing that will not change is that you belong with me. You may be his wife, but you will always be my Ceterus. Cassian might not always be there. He will have to work to keep you, because I will wait for the day he messes up and loses you. Then I can finally make you mine, as fate intended. I can wait.”
Zamara opened her mouth to say something.
Sideon said, “—either that or the dragon will just mysteriously appear tits up in a ditch somewhere.”
“What!”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “I’m kidding, Zamara. I wouldn’t do that to you. I am on your side. I won’t hurt anyone. I promise.” His bracelet caught the light as he reached up and cupped her cheek. “You can trust me.”
“The fate of my people relies on that trust. If you are wrong. If you—” Zamara swallowed past the lump in her throat as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. She nodded and whispered. “I will let Merida out but—” Her voice caught in her throat. “—but you must stay here until this is all over.”
“What?” Sideon frowned.
She took a step back. “And you must know, Cassian is our Ceterus too. There are three of us. So, try not to kill him. It would end us all.”
She turned and walked away. Sideon’s voice echoed down the corridor as he shouted her name and rattled the bars.
When Zamara reached the guard’s station, she instructed them to let Merida out under the condition that wherever she went, even to the bathroom, she must have a chaperone. Then she went in search of her council. It was time to check out this Trisector and see if she could get it to work.
Zamara once again meandered through rotten egg scented catacombs deep in the bowels of the realm.
Nevrine led the way with a torch, occasionally glancing at the map to the Trisector. She followed him and lit their way with her amulet. Merida breathed down her neck. Cassian brought up the rear.
The sound of chittering rats and their clicking paws, scurrying along the stone floor, had Merida shuffling closer.
Pain lanced through Zamara’s heel as Merida trampled on it. She stumbled and grabbed the back of Zamara’s shirt to keep herself from falling.
Zamara pinched her lips together. “It will be okay, Merida. We didn’t overcome this much and get this far together just to be taken out by rats.”
Merida stopped and started crying. “I can’t do this. I’m so sorry. I hate my father. I hate him. I told Sideon he needed to tell you—”
“—Merida.” Zamara grabbed her shoulders. “We don’t need to do this right now. We are almost to the Trisector.”
Merida embraced her. “I can’t believe this. That my father is capable of something like this. I don’t understand.”
Zamara went rigid. “Yeah, well, not to talk bad about your family, but your father really needs to get a grip—stop trying to rule everything with his iron fist.”
“I agree.” Merida chuckled. “But that still wasn’t funny.”
Zamara felt a weight lift from her chest. She pulled back and squeezed Merida’s shoulders. “Are you good to keep moving?”
“Yes. Thank you.” She whispered. “For everything.”
“My pleasure.” Zamara grabbed her hand, and they continued.
It was hard to stay mad at Merida. Zamara still didn’t trust her, not fully, and it would be a long while before she could ever forgive her, but she understood.
They came to a crossroads. Nevrine checked his map and took them into the tunnel on the right. They went on for what seemed like forever. Deeper and deeper into the northern mountains.
“Nevrine, how much longer?”
“Patience, child.”
Another right, and then a left, Nevrine stopped and stared at a wall of rubble. He frowned and looked down at the map again, then back to the rubble.
“Nevrine?” Zamara frowned. “What is it?”
“This is where the map says to go.” He ran his torch over the wall of boulders. A pair of cockroaches scurried into the cracks. “It appears there has been a cave-in. It must have happened when Blackstone erupted. No one has been down here in all this time. Not since the amulet was split. There is no way we are getting through.”
“Maybe there is another way…” Merida said.
Zamara rubbed her forehead. “If there is, it might be in the codex—Nevrine don’t you have maps of these tunnels in your workshop?”
“I have some, but it doesn’t map them all. I certainly have never come across one that leads to this Trisector.”
“We still need to check and make sure.” Zamara sighed. “Let’s start there. We will head topside and call a council meeting, see what we can do about this cave in and the now impending war.”
Desmond peeled back a scrap of dirty canvas as Giselle ducked through. A slash of sunlight from the entrance spilled through the center of the tent and illuminated a map table of their surroundings.
“Stay here.” Giselle ordered Desmond and turned to approach the table on silent feet.
Her heart beat rapidly as she allowed her eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Thick furs were draped over empty chairs. Goosebumps raised on her arms. She felt like she just walked into a cave of hibernating bears.
That would be safer. I can control the bears.
“Did you bring it?” Kain’s voice rumbled from the rear.
“I have been through the Never to get you this. Desmond and I had to swim to get here. Merida and Sideon left us in the Western Isles. They have decided to side with Zamara.”
Kain ever so slightly tensed his muscles.
Don’t get on his bad side. Giselle rushed on, “The hold she has on him as his Ceterus is strong. She has him brainwashed. He is not himself.” Giselle reached into her cleavage and produced a glass vial with iridescent liquid. It hung on a leather cord around her neck. “You were right. The blind hag in Port Angelis wasn’t there, but she had this in her wagon. How do you know it’s the right one?”
“Leave that to me.” He reached for it.
She pulled it out of his reach. Her heart jumped into her throat. “I have two demands before I hand this over. One is for the sake of your son.”
Kain stepped into the torchlight, “Oh?”
Chills shot down her spine. Her heart slammed against her chest. “I want Zamara’s Khannas added to the deal.” She pulled the vial off and set it on the table, trying to keep her hand steady. “Along with a tied Ceterus bond to Sideon once theirs is broken.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I must first test this to see if it works.” He snatched the vial up and held it to the lamp to inspect it. “Guards—fetch my son-in-law.”
“Giselle,” he turned cool silver eyes on her, “What news do you bring me? Are there any new developments?”
She smiled. “Your gifts have proven to be especially useful. If I am to rule here with Sideon, I would like to keep them.”
Kain snorted, “If you are going to rule here, you must first help me conquer it. What of the Trisector?”
“Desmond and I followed them through the tunnels as rats. They have the page with the map and the Codex of Fate, but the tunnels leading into Ladora must have collapsed in the Reckoning. They cannot reach it. It will take them weeks to dig it out.”
“Good, good,” He rubbed his chin. “The dragon has proven to be a formidable opponent. Which doesn’t surprise me. I helped train him, after all. I was just hoping his bond would force him to stay with the queen in the south. I was not planning on him returning so early. Alas, he has. Since his efforts to hold my army off have been successful, the queen has returned, and we are running low on supplies, I see only one immediate course of action to take.”
“I stationed my soldiers on the outskirts of Magland. They have softened up the Port Angelis army. I also control every animal within a ten-mile radius. Just say the word, my lord. We are at your command.”
On his map table, Kain slid a little figurine from the Forbidden to the southern gates of Magland. “We need to move up the timetable and thin their ranks.”
“How?” She glanced around the tent. “Where is Rose? Will you use the potion on her?”
“That does not concern you.” Kain raised his chin. “You have done well, Giselle. You may take your leave. Just stick around the camp and await further orders. I will have my men prepare you a tent.”
Giselle’s stomach flopped, and she pinched her lips together. I am a queen and am still being treated like an incompetent child. What more must I do to be treated with the regard Zamara’s people show her?
A commotion sounded near the tent’s entrance. She glimpsed a flash of dusty sunlight as four guards dragged in a man resembling minced meat and tossed him at their feet. Her eyes bulged. Is that Ander? Something told her if she didn’t play her cards exactly right, this is how she would end up.
Kain took a knee and grabbed Ander’s battered face. He popped the cork on the vial and dumped its contents down his throat. Kain covered his mouth as he choked on it, ensuring that it was all ingested.
That is all the potion there is! How is he going to break Sideon’s bond now?
“Do not give me that look if you value your life.” Kain jumped up and turned an hourglass sitting on the map table. “As soon as I get the Akashi Stone, I can recreate the potion. I assure you; I am a man of my word.” He grabbed Ander by the face and grinned like a maniac. “As this one will soon find out.” He shoved him away, straightened himself and addressed Giselle. “Now leave. You do not need to be present for this.”
It just so happened that she did value her life. So, Giselle bowed to Kain and quickly joined Desmond outside.
“What are we going to do about the cave in?” Zamara glanced around her council’s table at all the expectant faces, old and new.
Nevrine shook his head and flipped through pages of the codex. “This shows no other way to the Trisector.”
“Keep looking. See if you can find anything else of value there.” She looked around the table. “How fast can we clear it out?”
“I’ll have my clan come in from Magland.” Boss grunted. “We can have it cleared out in a moon.”
“If that is the only cave in.” Xiao said. “We don’t know what is beyond that one.”
Zamara’s heart panged and dread curled itself around her spine like a serpent. An entire month more that Rose and Ander must be with that monster. And that’s if we can hold him off for that long.
She rubbed her temple with two fingers and sighed. Being back in this chamber, the responsibility of everyone and everything weighing on her shoulders, expected to have all the answers, taking the blame when they were wrong, had her entire body itching to jump up and grab a glass of shine. She glanced at the bar with longing.
Cassian squeezed Zamara’s hand, as if letting her know they were in this together. “We can get Scandronn to squeeze through and check it out. Boss, you could go to Magland and wait for him. He should arrive with the other armies soon if he is not there already. You could take his second in command and a handful of his city guards with you. They can stay with the armies while you two return with your men to dig out the tunnel.”
“Trolls.” Zamara said. “The trolls can dig. It will be easier for them. It would be fairly cramped down there for the jotuns, and I would feel better if Boss and Scandronn were in Magland to oversee the incoming armies.”
“That is true.” Cassian scratched his chin. “Does anyone have objections to having the trolls dig?”
They all shook their heads no.
Boss said, “what are we gonna do when the armies get here?”
“They can camp outside the walls for now.” Zamara said.
“Why?” Cassian asked. “They would be safer behind the wall. Kain can pick them off on the other side.”
“For now, Cassian.” She raised her chin. “Those are my orders. Once they are all assembled, we will consider letting them in.”
He breathed out and shook his head. “Yes, my Queen.”
Silence ensued. Her council sat straight-backed and tense. She could tell they didn’t agree with her decision to keep them outside the wall, but she wasn’t sold on their good intentions. Their leaders were cowardly, traitorous, lying pieces of dung. She could be letting an army of Kain’s spies in. That would put them in a position to attack Magland. Not gonna happen.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Followed by two arguing female whispers. They were trying to speak softly but excitement had their voices climbing. They never replaced the broken door. She could hear them as clear as if they were standing beside her.
Bring it in.
They are in a meeting.
So? What if it’s important?
You bring it in.
Zamara cleared her throat and raised her voice. “Why don’t you both bring it in.”
